Improvement in gar and carriage steps



F. A. SAWYER, 26.. CAR AND CARRIAGE STEP.

No.182,332. I Pa tente'd' Sept. 19, 1876.

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WITNEEEEE- WVEN U UNID STATES PATENT QF IcE.

FRANCIS A. SAWYER, 2D, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROV EMENT IN CAR AND CARRIAGE STEPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 182,332, dated September 19, 1876; application filed April 17, 1876. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS A. SAWYER, 2d, of Boston, Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Gar-Steps, ofwhich the following is a specification It is desirable to mold upon step-surfaces letters or characters denoting ownership, for the purpose both of advertising the business of the party using the same and as a guide for direction; and for these reasons it is very essential that car and carriage steps should so be formed as by a simple inspection of the step the passenger is guided to the proper car.

I am aware that it is common in iron and other metals to mold or strike up raised letters on the surface, and I therefore do not claim the above-described features in their broad applications, but confine myself to steps covered with resilient vulcanizable gum, where it is necessary to mold the surface in a peculiar Way to protect the letters or other characters employed from undue wear, and also from the accumulation of dirt or dust around them, which, from the clinging nature of resilient material, is liable to happen when no provision is made for its escape.

This I accomplish by forming the depressed panel A near the center of the step, and connect it with the step-edge by a net-Work of open channels a the isolated projections or extended ridges a surrounding the same. Upon the panel A 1 mold raised letters of a resilient material, but make them somewhat less in height than the projections a, in order that the wear may be upon the projections, thus protecting the letters from injury.

Another feature of my invention is to make the letters or projections of a color contrasting with the base they are molded on, that the distinctive character of the step may be discerned at d usk. Thisi accomplish, preferably, 7 by cutting out the letters and projections ema greater prominence may be given the letters,

and that they may be discerned after dark.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim, and desire to secure by'Letters Patent of the United States- 1. In a step plated with soft vulcanizable gum, the surface of open channels and isolated projections or ridges surrounding a depressed panel, upon which is molded resilient letters or other characters denoting 'ownership, when constructed and arranged sub stantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The above-described step consisting of a plating of soft vulcanizable gum, upon which is molded raised resilient letters or projections of a color contrasting with the base, substantially as and for the purpose described.

FRANUlS A. SAWYER, 2D. Witnesses:

FREE. F. RAYMOND, A. J. OETTINGER. 

